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Case Study: Postpartum Depression
Psychopathology & Treatment Planning
Background Information:
Moxie is a twenty-two-year-old American woman currently residing in Hopkinton,
Rhode Island, with her fiancé and infant son. She is the 3rd of 4 children. She states having a big
family, with the stressors and drama to go along with it. Moxie is currently in school pursuing
her bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Before her infant’s arrival, she exceeded all of her classes and
was motivated to do the best she can for her son. She was in school three days a week and
worked 30 hours a week at a local hospital. She enjoyed being with friends and family, riding her
horse, and going to work. She states she is not religious or spiritual by any means. On the first
visit, the client was well-groomed, oriented to time and place, made good eye contact but had a
slumped posture, seemed depressed and anxious. Moxie was cooperative and stated she had not
been sleeping very well and was eating when she had the time.
Presenting Problem:
Moxie reports being depressed and feeling “totally empty.” She states that before her
infant’s birth, she was outgoing, loved to be with friends and family, and was always excited to
try something new. After her son’s birth, she states that she is not motivated to do anything; she
cannot focus and does not want to be with friends or family. Moxie states feeling worried that
she is not doing all she can for her son and wants to be the best parent she can be. She sometimes
has days where she can tackle the world, and other days she wants to lay on the couch and not
move. She states feeling very guilty; she is not eating, which has caused her to lose weight.
Symptoms that are affecting Moxies are indicative of a mood disorder. Moxie has never received
psychiatric treatment or therapy in the past; she stated that she had experienced some hardships
as a child and did not have the best support system at home.
Assessment:
There are a few different assessment tools that can be used to screen for postpartum
depression. These include the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), The Mills
Depression & Anxiety Checklist, and The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale.
The first assessment that can be utilized is the Mills Depression and Anxiety Checklist.
This can be utilized to determine how Moxie has been feeling throughout the past two weeks. It
can help gauge her feelings and help to see where she stands.
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is a 10-question scale that is a valuable and
